Five schools who could be Miami Hurricanes rivals if ND joins ACC

Memphis

Memphis would be an interesting addition to the ACC and provide the conference with a further imprint into SEC territory. The conferences have been moving into each other’s territory since Georgia Tech joined the ACC in 1978 after leaving the SEC 14 years earlier. Georgia Tech and Memphis were founders of the Metro Conference.

Memphis has become a feeder program of head coaches to the ACC. Justin Fuente left the Tigers for Virginia Tech in 2016. Mike Norvell succeeded Fuente and was hired by Florida State to replace the Willie Taggart disaster following the 2019 season. Memphis has had six straight winning seasons under Fuente and Norvell.

The Memphis basketball team has a long line of tradition. Memphis advanced to the Final Four in 1973, 1985 and lost in the 2008 NCAA Championship Game. Former star player Anfernee Hardaway recently returned to his alma mater as head coach. Memphis has 19 straight winning seasons in basketball.

Former Memphis basketball coach Josh Pastner is now at Georgia Tech. The Tigers would give ACC teams a new area of the country to reach in recruiting and more important in broadcasting. Memphis is the 25th largest city in the country and the 41st largest metropolitan area. Adding the Tigers would be good for the ACC.